Space heating system

ABSTRACT

A first partial heating system having a first heat source with an integrated heat source heat exchanger and heat transfer devices spaced from the heat source as a radiator with heat transfer outside surfaces and flow lines and return lines between the heat source heat exchanger and the heat transfer devices containing a flowable heat transport medium. A second partial heating system having a second heat source. A heat control system with a temperature regulator and switching unit for controlling both partial heating systems for individual operation or joint operation. The second partial heating system is a radiation heating system having a radiation surface coating capable of electrical activation which is applied to the heat transfer outside surfaces of the radiator as a radiation surface of the second partial heating system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a building heating system, and moreparticularly, to a heating system divided into a first partial heatingsystem and a second partial heating system with a temperature regulationand switching unit for controlling the partial heating systems forindividual operation or joint operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional building heating systems typically comprise a heatingboiler, such as an oil heating boiler or a gas heating boiler, to whichradiators installed in the building's rooms are connected by pipes whichoperate as flow lines and return lines. The heat generated in theheating boiler is transported, in one or several heating cycles, via atransport medium of hot water through the pipes to the radiators, whichact as a heat transfer media for radiating heat into the correspondingrooms.

Such building heating systems require relatively large amounts ofheating energy. For reasons of an economical heating operation, thereduction of pollutant emissions, and the known limited fossil fuelresources, considerable alteration has been directed to designingbuilding heating systems that operate more efficiently.

A generally known, generic type of building heating system is made up oftwo partial heating systems and is often used in so-called low-energyhouses. A partial heating system is designed as a basic system forproviding heat during cool outside temperatures, and comprises heatsources whose caloric energy is available either entirely or nearly forfree and, in particular, do not require any combustion of fossil fuels.Such heat sources can be solar modules and/or geothermal modules and/orcoolers for power generators from biogas plants. Such heat sourcesfeature integrated heat source heat exchangers through which the heattransport medium of hot water can be pumped to the radiators or, asrequired, to intermediate heat storage systems.

One disadvantage of such heat sources is the fact that heat there fromwill either be available only at specific periods of time or with greatvariations. For example, heat from solar energy, in an amount useful interms of heat engineering, will be available only with sufficient solarradiation that is often non-existent when heating is needed, such as atnight. Thus, the heating effect achievable with this heating systemalone will regularly be insufficient, especially during relatively coldoutside temperatures.

Accordingly, an additional partial heating system will therefore berequired as an add-on system which is designed in accordance with theinitially mentioned conventional building heating system having aheating boiler for burning fossil fuels which is connected to radiatorsin the room to be heated. It can be switched between the partial heatingsystems, or operated in parallel, with the heat energy to be transferredby means of hot water to the radiators being optionally selected to comefrom the individual heat sources or jointly from the heat sources. Aswitching unit required for joint or individual operation can beintegrated into a conventional heating control system with temperatureregulation to automatically perform such change-over and/or connectionsas a function of definable marginal conditions.

It is evident that the expenditure for setting up the above describedbuilding heating system from such combination-controlled partial heatingsystems is considerable since for relatively cold periods, a completeheating plant for fossil fuels must be provided combined withconnections and tanks for such fossil fuels as a backup system, althoughthe building heating system is supposed to be basically operated withalternative energies, for example with solar energy, in connection withlayer heat accumulators, as required. In addition, aside from the highset-up costs for the partial heating system for fossil fuels, therequired maintenance and service costs are also applicable. Due to theseconditions, the set-up costs of such combined heating systems areconsiderable higher compared with the simple, conventional buildingheating system described in the beginning and the savings potentials arethus relatively low overall so that such combined heating systems arenot yet generally being used despite their obvious advantage.

Furthermore, surface heating elements for the construction of a heatingsystem are known (DE 21 51 626 A) which have an electrically conductivecoating and are provided with electrical connections. Such a surfaceheating element is operated in the type of a resistance heating in whichaccording to the electrical resistance of the coating and thetransmitted electrical current, heat will be generated directly in thesurface heating element, such heat being radiated into a building room.The operation of such electrical resistance heating installations assole building heating installations is very expensive and thusuneconomical.

Furthermore, a heating arrangement is known (DE 19849432 Al) comprisingcoated surface heating elements whose coating has a specific chemicalcomposition and which is excitable by means of a harmonic generator forthe radiation of electromagnetic waves. Radiation takes place in anoscillation spectrum in the range of molecular own frequencies of themedia to be heated. The heating effect is via oscillating resonancessuch that the surface heating elements remain essentially cool and theheating effect appears directly on the media located within theradiation area. Such a heating system can be manufactured at low costand has a high efficiency.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to further developa building heating system from a first partial heating system and asecond partial heating system such that low cost manufacture andinstallation will be possible with little space requirement and highfunctionality and variability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above objectives are accomplished according to the present inventionby providing a building heating system that includes a first partialheating system having at least one first heat source with an integratedheat source heat exchanger, and a heat transfer device installed in atleast one building room remote from the heat source and having a heattransfer outside surface. A plurality of conduits provide flow lines andreturn lines carrying a flowable heat transport medium between the heatsource, the source heat exchanger, and the heat transfer device. Asecond partial heating system is provided which includes a second heatsource. The second heat source includes an electrically activatedcoating applied to at least a part of the heat transfer outside surfaceof the heat transfer device to provide a radiation surface for radiationheating. A heating control system having at least one temperatureregulator and a switching unit is operatively associated with the firstand second partial heating systems for individual and joint operation ofthe partial heating systems. As a result, the heat transfer device is acomponent of the first partial heating system as well as an integralcarrier of the coating of the second partial heating system.

Advantageously, the first partial heating system operates as the primaryheat provider for heating a room, and the second partial heating systemcan be automatically activated through the switching unit, as a functionof an outside temperature and/or an inside room temperature when heatoutput of the first partial heating system is no longer sufficient tomaintain a selected room temperature.

Preferably, the first heat source is selected from one of a solarmodule, a geothermal module, a cooler of a power generator of a biogas,and any combination thereof. Preferably, the heat transport mediumcomprises a controlled pumpable hot water. However, the arrangementaccording to the invention can also be designed for hot air heating. Fora further reduction of the energy costs of the building heating system,the electrical energy for the second partial heating system can also beprovided or at least supplemented, as the case may be, via alternativeenergy generating equipment, such as one of a solar module, a wind powergenerator, a biogas power generator, and a hydroelectric generator, andany combination thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the heat transfer device is a flat radiatorwith a generally planar front surface. The flat radiator is capable ofinstallation on a generally parallel surface of a room wall with thefront surface facing into the room, and the coating applied on the frontsurface for radiating heat. On such heat transfer media, the coating canbe applied flatly and simply, over a large area, and with a goodfunction result according to the present invention.

Usually, heat exchangers are cast from metal or formed from sheet metal.It will then be essential that an electrically insulating intermediatelayer will be applied between the heat exchanger outside surface as thecarrier surface and the coating. This intermediate layer can also be acoating, for example a color coating, or it can be designed as anadhesive film which, in turn, presents a carrier surface for the coatingas a radiation surface. In a preferred embodiment, the heat transferdevice is made of metal and at least one electrically insulatingintermediate layer is provided between the heat transfer outside surfaceand the coating applied as the radiation surface.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the coating is limited by twoelectrical conductors connected to the coating and the coating iscomposed of (a) 55% to 65% amount of substance of a basic substancecomprising (1) 39% to 49% amount of substance binding agent, (2) 18% to23% amount of substance insulator, (3) 18% to 24% amount of substancedispersing agent, and (4) 12% to 16% amount of substance distilledwater, and, (b) 35% to 45% amount of substance graphite.

Preferably, the binding agent of the coating is composed of (1) 64% to79% amount of substance distilled water, (2) 4% to 6% amount ofsubstance sulfonated oil, (3) 0.16% to 0.24% amount of substance phenolsor 0.05 to 0.5% amount of substance benzisothiazolinone, (4) 15% to 19%amount of substance casein, (5) 0.8% to 1.2% amount of substance urea,(6) 2% to 3% amount of substance alkaline thinning agent, and (7) 2.5%to 3.5% amount of substance caprolactam.

In a preferred embodiment, the heating control comprises a harmonicgenerator having an electrical component including, with a controloscillation, a steep current increase speed in accordance with a steepincrease edge and thus being suitable for generating a high harmonicpercentage. The harmonic generator is coupled to the coating by twoelectrical conductors for excitation of the coating for radiatingelectromagnetic waves with an oscillation spectrum in the frequencyrange of molecular self-oscillations.

Preferably, the sulfonated oil of the binding agent is sulfated ricinusoil, the phenols of the binding agent are carbonized phenols produced bycracking, and the thinning agent of the binding agent is a solvent basedin a group consisting of aromatics, alcohols, esters, ketones, and anycombination thereof, and the insulator of the coating is insulatingsoot. Additionally, the dispersing agent of the coating is selected fromthe group consisting of inorganic or organic monomer and polymersubstances. Preferably, the coating material contains a thixotropicagent.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrical component is one of a Triacand/or a double MOSFET, and the electrical conductors are designedgenerally as parallel aligned copper foil strips connected to thecoating in a capacitive and/or inductive coupling manner, with thecoating being under or above the copper foil strips or embedded in thecoating. The coating is controllable and adjustable by changing theamplitudes and frequency, selectively, of the oscillations of theharmonic generator.

Accordingly, the second partial heating system requires neither anexpensive heating boiler with burner, an oil tank, nor the rooms, thepiping connections and controls required for it. Due to the integralarrangement of radiation surfaces on the heat transfer device of thefirst partial heating system, no additional space is needed for thesecond partial heating system in the rooms to be heated. The heattransfer device thus has a double function as a conventional heattransfer media for the first partial heating system and simultaneouslyas a carrier element for the radiation surfaces of the second partialheating system. Due to this integrated double function, the heattransfer device/radiation surface combination can be advantageouslyprefabricated as one structural component as a module at a manufacturer.Then, the installation for setting up the building heating system of thetwo integrated room heating source elements of heat transfer device andradiant surface coating is advantageously performed in only oneoperation. This will result in low costs for manufacture andinstallation of the heating system.

The above building heating system is perfectly suitable as a low-energyheating system with the first partial heating system being designed as abasic system for heating conditions at cool outside temperatures and thesecond partial heating system being added on, with radiant surfacescapable of electrical activation through the control unit at relativelycold outside temperatures at which the heat output of the first partialheating system alone is no longer sufficient. This addition shouldpreferably be triggered automatically and can take place as a functionof an outside temperature and/or inside room temperature, possibly evenin combination with a determined temperature progression.

Advantageously, this type of coating generally remains cool during theheating operation and will generate heating effects through resonancesin the medium to be heated, by excitation of molecularself-oscillations. These heating effects and heating arrangements areexcellently suitable as a backup system in the further developmentaccording to the invention and its combination to a low-energy heatingsystem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter bedescribed, together with other features thereof. The invention will bemore readily understood from a reading of the following specificationand by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof,wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-section through a building of the heatingsystem according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described inmore detail. Referring to FIG. 1, a building, designated generally as 1,represents a low-energy house which is here provided with a heatinsulation 2 and a low-energy heating system, designated generally as 3.This low-energy heating system consists of a first partial heatingsystem 4 which has, as a heat source, a solar module 5 here selected byway of example. This solar module is coupled via pipe conduits 6 and 7to a regulation and control system 8, which has a pump arrangement 9with several pumps, with one of the pumps of pump arrangement 9 pumpingcold water via pipe 6 to the solar module 5 where it is heated andsubsequently directed as hot water via pipe 7 into a hot water layeredheat storage system 10.

The first partial heating system 4 furthermore comprises at least oneheat transfer device installed in a building room 11. In a preferredembodiment, the heat transfer device is a flat radiator 12 which ispresented in FIG. 1 by way of example and schematically shown, and whichhas a generally planar front surface 13 and is installed approximatelyparallel in or on a room wall, with front surface 13 facing intobuilding room 11.

With intermediate switching of control and regulating system 8, flatradiator 12 is connected with hot water layered heat storage tank 10 viaa flow line 14 and a return line 15. If necessary, via flow line 14, hotwater can be pumped into flat radiator 12 by means of at least oneadditional pump of pump arrangement 9 to heat building room 11 by givingoff heat to the ambient air through flat radiator 12. Thecorrespondingly cooled down water is then passed back via return line 15for reheating. Accordingly, heat storage tank 10 operates as a heatsource heat exchanger by transferring, via the flow lines and pumps, hotwater from heat source 5 to flat radiator 12 and then directing thecooled heat transfer medium, typically water, for reheating. This firstpartial heating system 4 thus forms the basic system for heat outputwhen heat is required.

Moreover, low-energy heating system 3 also comprises a second partialheating system having a second heat source. The second heat source isdesigned generally as radiation heating 16. Radiation heating 16 isprovided by a coating applied evenly onto front surface 13 of flatradiator 12. The coating is capable of electrical activation to producea radiation surface 17 for heating a medium. In a preferred embodiment,flat radiator 12 is made of metal and at least one electricallyinsulating intermediate layer, not shown, is provided between the heattransfer outside surface of flat radiator 12 and the coating applied tothe radiator as radiation surface 17.

In a preferred embodiment, the coating is composed of (a) 55% to 65%amount of substance of a basic substance comprising (1) 39% to 49%amount of substance binding agent, (2) 18% to 23% amount of substanceinsulator, (3) 18% to 24% amount of substance dispersing agent, and (4)12% to 16% amount of substance distilled water, and, (b) 35% to 45%amount of substance graphite.

Preferably, the binding agent of the coating is composed of (1) 64% to79% amount of substance distilled water, (2) 4% to 6% amount ofsubstance sulfonated oil, (3) 0.16% to 0.24% amount of substance phenolsor 0.05 to 0.5% amount of substance benzisothiazolinone, (4) 15% to 19%amount of substance casein, (5) 0.8% to 1.2% amount of substance urea,(6) 2% to 3% amount of substance alkaline thinning agent, and (7) 2.5%to 3.5% amount of substance caprolactam.

Furthermore, a heating control 18 is included in control and regulationsystem 8. Heating control 18 includes a temperature regulator system anda switching unit for switching off or changing over the partial heatingsystems 4 and 16 for individual operation, or for the addition of one ofthe partial heating system to the other partial heating system for jointoperation. Heating control 18 is preferably integrated into control andregulation system 8 and is coupled to an outside temperature sensor 19,as well as an inside temperature sensor 20 via corresponding lines 21and 22.

Heating control 18 moreover comprises a harmonic generator 23, whichcomprises e.g. a Triac and/or a double MOSFET as the electrical modulewhich has, at an approach oscillation, a steep current increase speedcorresponding to a steep rising edge and thus being suitable forgenerating a high harmonic percentage.

Harmonic generator 23 is coupled to radiation surface 17 through twoelectrical conductors, preferably formed by copper foil strips 24 and 25which are generally aligned in parallel at opposite ends of radiationsurface 17. Excitation of radiation surface 17 is achievable forradiating electromagnetic waves with an oscillation spectrum in thefrequency range of molecular self-oscillations, with the heating effectof radiation surface 17 being controllable and/or adjustable through achange of the amplitudes and/or the frequency of triggering oscillationsof the harmonic generator 23.

The second partial heating system designed as radiation heating 16 canbe added, automatically through the switching unit included in heatingcontrol 18, as a function of an outside temperature and/or an insidetemperature, such as when at relatively cold outside temperatures theheating output of the first partial heating system 4 is no longersufficient for maintaining a desired temperature.

The electrical contact to radiation surface 17 is designed as acapacitive and/or inductive coupling with the coating of radiationsurface 17 being under or over the copper foil strips 24 and 25, orthese are embedded alternatively into radiation surface 17.

Furthermore, low-energy heating system 3 can be attributed with one ofsolar module 5, a wind power generator, a biogas power generator, and ahydropower generator and any combination thereof, for generating theelectrical energy for radiation heating 16.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described usingspecific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, andit is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A building heating system comprising: a firstpartial heating system for heating the interior of a room; said firstpartial heating system including at least one first heat source, a heatsource heat exchanger, and a heat transfer device installed in at leastone building room remote from the heat source and having a heat transferoutside surface; a plurality of conduits providing flow lines and returnlines carrying a flowable heat transport medium between the heat source,heat source heat exchanger and the heat transfer device; a secondpartial heating system having a second heat source for heating theinterior of a room; said second heat source including an electricallyactivated coating applied to at least a part of the heat transferoutside surface of the heat transfer device to provide a radiationsurface for radiation heating; and, a heating control system having atleast one temperature regulator and a switching unit operativelyassociated with said first and second partial heating systems forindividual and joint operation of the partial heating systems; wherebythe heat transfer device is a component of the first partial heatingsystem as well as an integral carrier of the coating of the secondpartial heating system.
 2. The heating system of claim 1 wherein thefirst partial heating system operates as the primary heat provider forheating a room, and the second partial heating system can beautomatically activated through the switching unit, as a function of anoutside temperature and/or an inside room temperature when heat outputof the first partial heating system is no longer sufficient to maintaina selected room temperature.
 3. The heating system of claim 1 whereinsaid first heat source includes one of a solar module, a geothermalmodule, a cooler of a power generator of a biogas, and any combinationthereof.
 4. The heating system of claim 1 wherein said heat transportmedium comprises a controlled pumpable hot water.
 5. The heating systemof claim 1 including one of a solar module, wind power generator, abiogas power generator, and a hydroelectric generator for generatingelectrical energy for the second partial heating system.
 6. The heatingsystem of claim 1 wherein said heat transfer device is a flat radiatorwith a generally planar front surface; said flat radiator capable ofinstallation on a generally parallel surface of a room wall with thefront surface facing into the room, and the coating applied on saidfront surface for radiating heat.
 7. The heating system of claim 1wherein the heat transfer device is made of metal and at least oneelectrically insulating intermediate layer is provided between the heattransfer outside surface and the coating applied as the radiationsurface.
 8. The heating system of claim 1 wherein the electricallyactivated coating includes: a. 55% to 65% amount of substance of a basicsubstance comprising 39% to 49% amount of substance binding agent, 18%to 23% amount of substance insulator, 18% to 24% amount of substancedispersing agent, and 12% to 16% amount of substance distilled water,and, b. 35% to 45% amount of substance graphite.
 9. The heating systemof claim 8 wherein the insulator of the coating is insulating soot. 10.The heating system of claim 8 wherein the dispersing agent of thecoating is selected from the group consisting of inorganic or organicmonomer and polymer substances.
 11. The heating system of claim 8wherein the coating material contains a thixotropic agent.
 12. Theheating system of claim 8 wherein the binding agent of the coatingincludes: 64% to 79% amount of substance distilled water, 4% to 6%amount of substance sulfonated oil, 0.16% to 0.24% amount of substancephenols or 0.05 to 0.5% amount of substance benzisothiazolinone, 15% to19% amount of substance casein, 0.8% to 1.2% amount of substance urea,2% to 3% amount of substance alkaline thinning agent, and 2.5% to 3.5%amount of substance caprolactam.
 13. The heating system of claim 12wherein the sulfonated oil of the binding agent is preferably sulfatedricinus oil, the phenols of the binding agent are carbonized phenolsproduced by cracking, and the thinning agent of the binding agent is asolvent based in a group consisting of aromatics, alcohols, esters,ketones, and any combination thereof.
 14. The heating system of claim 1wherein said heating control system comprises a harmonic generatorhaving an electrical component including, with a control oscillation, asteep current increase speed in accordance with a steep increase edgeand thus being suitable for generating a high harmonic percentage; saidharmonic generator coupled to the coating by two electrical conductorsfor excitation of the coating for radiating electromagnetic waves withan oscillation spectrum in the frequency range of molecularself-oscillations.
 15. The heating system of claim 14 wherein theelectrical component is one of a Triac or a double MOSFET, and theelectrical conductors are designed generally as parallel aligned copperfoil strips connected to the coating in a capacitive and/or inductivecoupling manner, with the coating being under or above the copper foilstrips or embedded in the coating.
 16. The heating system of claim 15wherein the heating effect of the coating is controllable and adjustableby changing the amplitudes and frequency, selectively, of theoscillations of the harmonic generator.
 17. A building heating systemcomprising: a first partial heating system including a first heat sourceoperatively associated with a heat transfer device having a heattransfer outside surface for radiating heat provided by the heat source;a second partial heating system including an electrically activatedcoating carried by said heat transfer outside surface of said heattransfer device to provide a radiation surface for radiation heating tosupplement the heating of said first partial heating system; and, aheating control system operatively associated with said first and secondpartial heating systems for individual and joint operation of said firstand second partial heating systems; whereby the heat transfer device isa component of the first partial heating system as well as an integralcarrier of the coating of the second partial heating system.
 18. Theheating system of claim 17 wherein said heat transfer device is made ofmetal and at least one electrically insulating intermediate layer isprovided between the heat transfer outside surface and said coatingapplied as the radiation surface.
 19. The heating system of claim 17wherein the electrically activated coating includes: a. 55% to 65%amount of substance of a basic substance comprising 39% to 49% amount ofsubstance binding agent, 18% to 23% amount of substance insulator, 18%to 24% amount of substance dispersing agent, and 12% to 16% amount ofsubstance distilled water, and, b. 35% to 45% amount of substancegraphite.
 20. The heating system of claim 17 wherein said heatingcontrol system comprises a harmonic generator having an electricalcomponent including, with a control oscillation, a steep currentincrease speed in accordance with a steep increase edge and thus beingsuitable for generating a high harmonic percentage; said harmonicgenerator coupled to the coating by two electrical conductors forexcitation of the coating for radiating electromagnetic waves with anoscillation spectrum in the frequency range of molecularself-oscillations.
 21. A building heating system comprising: a firstpartial, heating system including a heat transfer device for radiatingheat provided by a heat source; a second partial heating systemincluding an electrically activated coating carried by said heattransfer device and providing a radiation surface for radiation heating;said electrically activated coating including, a.) 55% to 65% amount ofsubstance of a basic substance comprising: 39% to 49% amount ofsubstance binding agent, 18% to 23% amount of substance insulator, 18%to 24% amount of substance dispersing agent, and 12% to 16% amount ofsubstance distilled water, and, b.) 35% to 45% amount of substancegraphite; and, a heating control system operatively associated with saidfirst and second partial heating systems for individual and jointoperation of said first and second partial heating systems; whereby theheat transfer device is a component of the first partial heating systemas well as an integral carrier of the coating of the second partialheating system.
 22. The heating system of claim 21 wherein said heattransfer device is made of metal and at least one electricallyinsulating intermediate layer is provided between the heat transferdevice and said coating applied as the radiation surface.
 23. Theheating system of claim 21 wherein said heating control system comprisesa harmonic generator having an electrical component including, with acontrol oscillation, a steep current increase speed in accordance with asteep increase edge and thus being suitable for generating a highharmonic percentage; said harmonic generator coupled to the coating bytwo electrical conductors for excitation of the coating for radiatingelectromagnetic waves with an oscillation spectrum in the frequencyrange of molecular self-oscillations.